Tag: 1977

Broncos honor Randy Gradishar, add 2 players to Ring of Fame during Raiders game

The Broncos honored Randy Gradishar, Steve Foley, Riley Odoms and the 1977 team against the Raiders on Sunday.

The Denver Broncos are throwing it back to 1977 for their AFC West showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders today.

In addition to wearing their beautiful throwback uniform, the Broncos painted their field to appear as it did against the Raiders in the 1977 AFC Championship game, and they updated their scoreboards and stadium signage to reflect the throwback design.

Denver is also playing 1970s-inspired music to complete the throwback atmosphere, and there was a nod to “Back to the Future” outside the stadium.

Before the game, the Broncos unveiled the Ring of Fame pillars for new Ring of Fame members safety Steve Foley and tight end Riley Odoms.

Denver also honored linebacker Randy Gradishar for his recent enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame before Sunday’s game.

At halftime, Foley and Odoms were officially recognized as the newest members of the team’s Ring of Fame. The Broncos also honored the 1977 team that reached the first Super Bowl in franchise history at halftime.

More than 120 former Denver players returned to Empower Field at Mile High as part of the team’s Alumni Weekend festivities.

“I’m just glad that they’re coming out and getting a chance to be honored,” coach Sean Payton said on Friday. “I think what Carrie [Walton Penner] and Greg [Penner] have done to embrace our history, not only in the building… If you went through the hallways this offseason, here’s the tight ends room and here are the [photographs of former Broncos] tight ends. It’s pretty impressive, and I know how important it is to our ownership, and I know how important it is to me. … I’m excited for those that are obviously getting honored, and then also those that can enjoy and be back for that experience.”

F1 driver and team co-owner Lewis Hamilton also attended Saturday’s walk-through practice.

To complete the throwback, the Broncos will need to beat the Raiders, just like they did in the 1977 AFC Championship game (20-17).

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Broncos will honor 1977 team in Week 5 vs. Raiders

The Broncos are set to honor Randy Gradishar, Steve Foley, Riley Odoms and the entire 1977 team when they host the Raiders in Week 5.

After electing safety Steve Foley and tight end Riley Odoms to their Ring of Fame on Thursday, the Denver Broncos announced that the entire 1977 team will be recognized at halftime of their game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5.

In addition to unveiling steel pillars for Foley and Odoms in Week 5, the Broncos will also honor linebacker Randy Gradishar, who is set to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.

Gradishar, Foley and Odoms were key members of the 1977 team that helped the Broncos reach their first Super Bowl that season. Denver ultimately lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27-10 in Super Bowl XII, but that 1977 squad was the first in franchise history to reach the NFL’s title game.

Gradishar, Foley and Odoms — and the entire 1977 team — will be invited to Empower Field at Mile High as part of Alumni Weekend to be honored against the Raiders on Oct. 6.

When the Broncos unveiled their throwback uniform earlier this year, they dubbed it the “1977 classic.” Given that designation and the team’s historic rivalry against the Raiders, it seems safe to assume Denver will break out that throwback uniform for the first time in Week 5.

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Broncos’ Orange Crush-inspired throwback uniforms are a big hit

The Broncos have unveiled 1977-inspired throwback uniforms and they are absolutely beautiful.

The Denver Broncos unveiled new primary (and alternate) uniforms on Monday that have been met with mixed reviews. There are vocal fans on social media who strongly dislike the new look, but there are also fans who view it as a big improvement on the previous threads.

While there’s not a strong consensus on the primary uniforms, the Orange Crush-inspired throwback look has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both fans and pundits.

Here’s the club’s description of the new throwback, courtesy of a press release from the team:

Honoring the Orange Crush era and the 1977 season when the Broncos made their first Super Bowl appearance, the throwback closet features the iconic Legacy Blue ‘D’ helmet and orange uniforms adapted to Nike’s current chassis with peak performance fabric.

Helmet: The Legacy Blue shell pairs with a white facemask and vertical orange stripe. The fan-favorite and iconic Denver ‘D’ logo originally introduced in 1968 will return to the Broncos’ uniform closet rotation for the first time on a Legacy Blue helmet since 1996.

Jersey: The classic orange jersey features oversized white numbers with Legacy Blue trim on the front, back and top of the shoulders. A sleeve stripe sits at the shoulder mirroring the Legacy Blue trim from the numbers.

Pants: The white pants include an orange and Legacy Blue stripe down the length of the pants.

Socks: The socks include orange and Legacy Blue bands that align with the stripes of the jerseys and pants.

The Broncos unveiled the uniform on Monday with a video showing Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar handing off an Orange Crush-era helmet to star cornerback Pat Surtain.

Denver called it a “blast from the past” on social media:

The Broncos can wear alternate/throwback uniforms up to three times per season. It seems safe to say fans in Denver will be excited every time this look is pulled out of the closet.

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Notre Dame football’s all-time best throwback uniforms

The jerseys were great. The game was not.

Much has been made this week about a couple of NFL teams bringing back some of their best uniforms.  The Seattle Seahawks are bringing back what we call “The Mirer’s” in these parts while the Minnesota Vikings are bringing out their own “classic” look.

That news got me thinking about my favorite Notre Dame football throwback uniforms of all-time.  Listen, the Irish don’t change things up with their uniforms often, and when they do it’s rather minimal.  However, their throwbacks worn against USC in 2007 to recognize the 1977 green jersey game were classic.

Take a look back below of how great the Irish looked that day and try to forget the fact that the worst Notre Dame team most of us have ever seen lost 38-0 to their biggest rival that afternoon.

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